Overview
A poignant tale of love and conflict set against a backdrop of societal strife.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- romantic
- urgent
- melodramatic
- politically engaged viewing
- indian cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's socially conscious interfaith drama, strong performances, brisk direction, and courage in confronting communal violence.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Shekhar and Shaila's Hindu-Muslim relationship is opposed by their families and becomes the emotional center of the political conflict.
The couple's household and twin sons become vulnerable when Bombay's Hindu-Muslim riots erupt.
The film depicts riots following the demolition of Babri Masjid and frames their effects through an interfaith family.
The village courtship and Bombay family life are set against increasingly expansive scenes of riot-driven upheaval.
Films like Bombay, and why
1947: Earth
interfaith romance, political conflict, and socially conscious melodrama
Roja
political violence, intimate family stakes, and emotionally charged indian drama
Mr. and Mrs. Iyer
communal tension, forbidden love, and historical trauma rendered through melodrama
Movie Details
- Director
- Mani Ratnam
- Release Date
- 1995-03-10
- Runtime
- 141 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (87)
Cast
- Arvind Swamy
- Manisha Koirala
- Prakash Raj
- Nassar
- Kitty
- Tinnu Anand
- Master Harsha
- Master Hridhay
- Sonali Bendre
- Nagendra Prasad
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Bombay about?
- An interfaith marriage struggles to protect its young family when communal riots turn Bombay into a landscape of political and personal rupture.
- What is Bombay like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bombay as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Bombay violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Bombay as graphic.
- What did critics think of Bombay?
- Critics broadly praised the film's socially conscious interfaith drama, strong performances, brisk direction, and courage in confronting communal violence.
- Which films are like Bombay?
- Films with a similar feel include 1947: Earth, Roja, and Mr. and Mrs. Iyer.
- How long is Bombay?
- Bombay runs 141 minutes.
- Where can I watch Bombay?
- In United States, Bombay is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
